Vertically mounted bar code scanner assembly

Abstract

A vertically mounted bar code scanner assembly which is an alternative to a scanner having integral mounting hardware. The assembly includes a modular scanner having a back surface and a front surface containing a scanning aperture which emits scanning light beams, a mounting bracket including a bottom wall which fastens to a substantially horizontal mounting surface and a vertical wall coupled to the bottom wall. The vertical wall of the mounting bracket couples to the back surface of the scanner, placing the scanning aperture in a substantially vertical orientation.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A bar code scanner assembly comprising: a bar code scanner having a generally box-like housing including a back surface and a front surface containing a scanning aperture which emits scanning light beams;   wherein the scanner is designed to be mounted in a generally horizontal orientation within a checkout counter, such that the front surface of the housing is flush with a top surface of the checkout counter, and in a substantially vertical orientation on top of the checkout counter, such that the front surface of the housing is generally vertical; and   a mounting bracket including a bottom wall which fastens to the top surface of the checkout counter, and a vertical wall coupled to the bottom wall;   wherein the vertical wall of the mounting bracket couples to the back surface of the housing placing the scanner in the substantially vertical orientation on the checkout counter.   
     
     
       2. A bar code scanner assembly comprising: a bar code scanner having a generally box-like housing including a back surface and a front surface containing a scanning aperture which emits scanning light beams;   wherein the scanner is designed to be mounted in a generally horizontal orientation within a checkout counter, such that the front surface of the housing is flush with a top surface of the checkout counter, and in a substantially vertical orientation adjacent the top surface of the checkout counter, such that the front surface of the housing is generally vertical; and   a mounting bracket which couples the bar code scanner to the checkout counter and places the scanner in the substantially vertical orientation.   
     
     
       3. A bar code scanner assembly comprising: a bar code scanner having a generally box-like housing including a back surface, a front surface containing a scanning aperture which emits scanning light beams, and four side surfaces;   wherein the scanner is designed to be mounted in a generally horizontal orientation within a checkout counter, such that the front surface of the housing is flush with a top surface of the checkout counter, and in a substantially vertical orientation on top of the checkout counter, such that the front surface of the housing is generally vertical; and   a mounting bracket formed from a single piece of sheet metal including a bottom wall which fastens to the top surface of the checkout counter, a vertical wall oriented substantially perpendicular to the bottom wall, and a top wall oriented substantially perpendicular to the vertical wall;   wherein the vertical wall of the mounting bracket couples to the back surface of the housing and places the scanner in the substantially vertical orientation on the checkout counter with the bottom wall under one of the side surfaces of the housing and the top wall over another of the side surfaces of the housing opposite the one side surface.